For nearly a decade, we have been working with a small selection of top-ranked Japanese forge smiths to make Traditional Forged Knives for our Fu-Rin-Ka-Zan brand.
Due to the forge smith’s extensive experience in hammer forging and traditional handcrafting processes, their special effort and their continuous research, we can now offer our customers traditional forged knives in a variety of premium Japanese steels.
The Fu-Rin-Ka-Zan YUTAKA 豊佳 Series are Special Limited Edition versions of our Limited Production Fu-Rin-Ka-Zan Traditional Forged Knives. The YUTAKA 豊佳 Series harmoniously marries Traditional Handcrafted high-end knife blades with Contemporary, Stylish Wa Handle Designs.
This beautiful Damascus Kiritsuke-Slicer 240mm is forged and hand crafted by passionate forge smith Sukenari using R-2 steel. R-2 (Also known as SG-II ) is a high-quality Powdered Metallurgy (P.M.) High Speed Tool Steel from Kobelco. R-2 has a very rich chemical composition, which includes Carbon 1.25-1.45 %, Chromium 14- 16%, Molybdenum 2.3- 3.3 %, and Vanadium 1.8- 2.2 %.
Master Hanaki, the President of Sukenari, has crafted these very practical and special Powdered High Speed Tool Steel knives with an R-2 blade core / cutting edge (HRC. 63) and attractive Wavy Damascus cladding.
Why do JCK work closely with Sukenari to produce these R-2 Damascus Knives ?
Sukenari has been famous for making traditional Japanese Knives for many years, but this forward-looking company is always busy researching and challenging themselves to produce really special knives made from high-end and exotic steels.
Combining over 80 years of knife making experience with their knowledge of ancient forging techniques, Sukenari is able to craft knives with the outstanding cutting performance and practicality that culinary professionals demand.
R-2 is a well respected Powdered High Speed Tool Steel that Master Hanaki believes is one of the most practical cutlery steels available because it can provide an excellent blend of high cutting performance, edge retention, corrosion resistance and ease of maintenance. Unlike knives made from very hard Powdered High Speed Tool Steels, such as ZDP-189, R-2 can still be sharpened easily, without expensive specialist whetstones, and it offers better price-performance.
What is the secret behind the high cutting performance of these R-2 Damascus Knives?
The secret is a slightly convex blade, which is very thin behind the edge. This ideal blade profile is created by the sensitive touch and skill of an experienced craftsman, who uses a MIZU-TO 水砥 (A large, rotating, wet grinding wheel) to shape the blades by hand.
Sukenari have leveraged all of this expertise to make R-2 steel knives with a Simple & Beautiful Wavy Damascus pattern, extra high-cutting performance and excellent edge retention. We believe Sukenari’s core brand concept —Utilizing modern Japanese steels to produce professional-quality, practical knives with high cutting performance— is perfectly complimented by the Simple Beauty of these Damascus knives. We hope you will try them and enjoy this wonderful cutting performance and quality for many, many years in to the future.
To enrich your cooking experience and suit a wide variety of needs and preferences, this Fu-Rin-Ka-Zan R-2 Clad FRDYP-51 Kiritsuke Slicer 240mm features an Innovative Octagonal White Ivory Micarta handle with a Turquoise Composite Stone Ferrule & Butt with Nickel Silver Spacers. A matching Handcrafted Magnolia wood Saya (Sheath) with a black pakkawood Saya pin is also included with the knife.
We hope you can see and feel the craftsman’s spirit and passion for creating knives with next-level cutting performance and originality.
The long, narrow, graceful blade of the Kiritsuke-Slicer is particularly useful for trimming away sinew and fat from meat, finely slicing meat or boneless fish, or for filleting and skinning fish. The long blade allows the meat or fish to be cut in one single drawing motion, from heel to tip.
